Services

It will be a community-based modern Social Centre, whose management and administration will be in the control of the residents of Paynters and the wider St. Peter’s. I envisage facilities such as homework classes, with special tutoring for those who need it; courses in computer technology; sports and recreation; training in life skills and home economics.I will approach the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board to propose a new scheme whereby buses will be scheduled to run into and out of Paynters on a regular basis for the convenience of its residents. Further, bus shelters will be constructed at appropriate locations to protect waiting passengers from the rain. In addition, road surfaces and sidewalks are in dire need of attention. Most residents have invested their life savings in their homes, and I will do my utmost to ensure there is no deterioration of the area due to poor roads, drainage or sidewalks. There is need also for adequate lighting, and an ongoing debushing programme. The basketball court is dilapidated and run down. We will repair, fence, floodlight and equip this facility to the standard where it can host national tournaments.

Paynters

APUA Funding

For over few years back, we have waited for APUA to bring pipe-water to the dozens of homes in Vernons. I could wait no longer. I have given my personal cheque for Fifty One Thousand Five Hundred and Forty One EC Dollars and Thirteen Cents (EC$51,541.13) to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHAPA) to purchase over Six Thousand Feet (6000ft) of PVC pipe to be installed in Vernons Development, Vernons Estate,and part of Gunthropes. The pipes should be installed by March 2004, and every house should then have running water.

Ministry of Public Works

The charge of overspending the Ministry’s budget has been leveled against the Ministry of Public Works during the period of my stewardship. Again, you need to know the facts. Firstly, the records will show that not within the past 35 years, including the period of the PLM Administration, has the Ministry of Public Works completed a financial year within its budget. The reason for this is simple. The Government’s method of planning and accounting, as well as the inability of the system to deal with emergencies and unforeseen projects, make it virtually impossible for any Ministry to set a precise and realistic monetary amount that will not be exhausted within a given time. This was particularly so in the Ministry of Public Works in the past six years, because of several successive hurricanes and the impact they had on the infrastructure. Priority had to be given to repairs, and to other areas such as drainage, sidewalks, road improvement and also to new road building. Further, most critics have disregarded the impact of the country’s phenomenal growth in housing developments, and the resultant demand for roads, utilities and other infrastructure.

For Example

The Institute of Technology at the Free Trade and Processing Zone, the Vendors Mall, Vegetable and Craft Markets, and the Abattoir. There was also the Government Office Complex including the beautiful Halls of Justice. The construction of Mount St. John’s Medical Centre was going full speed at the time. These projects demonstrated our capacity during this period to get important things done, and to transform the landscape of Antigua.